" Go ahead, dance, Rodolfo."
Also when Rodolfo boxes with Eddie she supports and compliments Rodolfo's ability,
"He's very good".
In this scene we see how Catherine is trying to make Eddie change his mind about Rodolfo,
"They get some high pay, them guys. The head chefs in all the big hotels are men. You read about them."
In this scene she seems a little nervous around Eddie. Also when she sees Eddie and Rodolfo boxing she is deeply alarmed.
This scene tells us that Rodolfo is timid when around Eddie. He is frightened of Eddie's reaction to things that he does. One example of this is when he is asked to dance by Catherine,
"(in deference to Eddie) No, I - I'm tired."
When asked to box Rodolfo is embarrassed,
" Well, I don't know how to".
This scene shows us how Marco thinks highly of Rodolfo, and also raises the issue of family loyalty and the importance of the issue throughout the play.
" Yes, we eat very good on the boats - especially when Rodolfo comes along; everybody gets fat."
Also Marco sees that Eddie is trying to prove his strength and send Marco warning signs when he teaches Rodolfo to box. After Eddie hits Rodolfo, Marco decides to prove to Eddie that he is not to be messed with, by setting a challenge of lifting a chair and proves his strength when Eddie fails and he prevails.
At the bottom of page 38 we begin to see problems between Eddie and Beatrice as they dispute the issue of whether it is safe for Rodolfo to go out until late with Catherine.
" I mean suppose he gets hit by a car or something. (To Marco) Where's his papers, who is he? Know what I mean?"
"Yeah, but who is he in the daytime, though? It's the same chance in the daytime."
"(holding back a voice full of anger) Yeah, but he don't have to go lookin' for it, Beatrice."
This is a great example of how Beatrice can tease and frustrate Eddie by disagreeing with him.
We also see tension building up between Eddie and Marco at the top of page 39.
" I beg your pardon, Eddie."
" I mean, that's what I understood in the first place, see."
" Yes. That's why we came."
" Well that's all I'm asking"
" Eddie reads his paper. There is a pause, an awkwardness."
When Eddie starts to box with Rodolfo, Marco realises what Eddie is trying to prove and therefore there is tension. When Eddie hits Rodolfo on page 41 you can see that it doesn't please Marco,
" He feints with his left hand and lands with his right. It mildly staggers Rodolfo. Marco rises"
Marco also looks at Eddie a bit doubting and questionable,
"He could be very good, Marco. I'll teach him again.
Marco nods at him dubiously."
Tension is very high at this point and it becomes even tenser when Marco sets Eddie the task of lifting a chair with one hand from the bottom of one of the chair legs above his head. When Marco lifts the chair the reader can almost feel the tension and share the pain with Marco.
" (He kneels, grasps, and with strain slowly raises the chair higher and higher, getting to his feet now. Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension gripping his eyes and jaw, his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon over Eddie's head."
The tension and the atmosphere that the reader can feel, make this scene exciting and dramatic. The inclusion of Eddie teaching Rodolfo to box definitely adds drama to the scene and it builds up a lot of tension between the characters. This is also exciting as the writer creates a very powerful scene showing how Eddie finally hits Rodolfo. For me one of the most dramatic parts of the play is after Eddie lands a punch on Rodolfo's face. You have the drama as Catherine rushes to Rodolfo's side,
"(rushing to Rodolfo) Eddie!"
Catherine shows her love and affection for Rodolfo as she rushes to him as if he is going to die. There is a sense of frustration and disappointment when she calls to Eddie.
The scene is trying to show themes and issues such as family loyalty, which is a main factor throughout the play. Family is pivotal in the play as every issue raised has something to do with family. Family loyalty is essential for Eddie as he depends on the support of his family.
In the second scene I have chosen, the characters involved are Eddie, Marco, Alfieri, Rodolfo, Catherine and Beatrice.
In this scene we see Eddie demanding his respect from the people around him. Again we see Eddie getting frustrated because Beatrice want's to go
to Catherine and Rodolfo's wedding, this signals the start of the collapse of their wedding.
" I'll be back in about an hour, Eddie. All right?
" What. Have I been talkin' to myself?"
" Eddie, for gods sake, it's her wedding."
" Didn't you hear what I told you? You walk out that door to that wedding you ain't comin' back here, Beatrice."
When Rodolfo tries to talk to Eddie and to make him calm down, Eddie tells him to get lost and does not want to listen. At the end of the play we see Eddie acting a little crazy in the street, as he demands Marco to apologise to him for taking his name, This scene shows how everyone is deserting him because they know he called the immigration officers. Eddie in some respect has lost everything; his niece, his friends and more importantly his honour.
In this scene we see for the first time, Marco getting increasingly angry as Alfieri tries to persuade him not to do anything he'll regret.
"(his anger rising) He degraded my brother. My blood. He robbed my children, he mocks my work. I work to come here, mister!"
When Marco calls Eddie out in to the street we see how angry and annoyed Marco is with Eddie. Marco has no respect for Eddie whatsoever.
Alfieri is trying to persuade Marco not to touch Eddie on page 59. We see that Alfieri fears that Marco might break the law and therefore makes him promise not to touch Eddie,
" You won't touch him. This is your promise."
Alfieri is trying to calm Marco down because he knows Marco is incandescent with rage and is not thinking straight. Alfieri's speech at the end of the play explains how even though he knew Eddie was wrong he still misses him and mourns his death.
Rodolfo, in this scene, apologises to Eddie and tries to patch things up before Marco arrives. Rodolfo knows Marco is going to come to Eddie with the intent of a fight and is trying to prevent this.
" I think, maybe when Marco comes, if we can tell him we are comrades now, and we have no more argument between us. Then maybe Marco will not-"
On page 61 Catherine finally snaps,
"(suddenly) Who the hell do you think you are?"
Beatrice tries to make Catherine stop,
"Sssh!"
"Shut up, Katie!"
We begin to see sides formed in this scene as Catherine breaks away from Eddie and Beatrice defends him.
" How can you listen to him? This rat!"
" (shaking Catherine) Don't you call him that!"
When Eddie gets stabbed at the end of the play, Catherine and Beatrice support him before Catherine apologises to him, but then he dies in Beatrice's arms.
We see problems between Eddie, Beatrice and Catherine in this scene as they argue in the house. There are tensions between the characters because Eddie doesn't want Beatrice going to the wedding and Catherine does.
" You're gonna come with me!"
" I can't Katie, I can't…"
" How can you listen to him? This rat!"
" Don't you call him that!"
The family, which was once so strong, is now falling apart.
The greatest signs of tension and problems between characters are when Marco and Eddie are arguing in the street. But before Marco arrives at Eddie's house there is a lot of tension built as Eddie waits for Marco's arrival. This part of the play reminds me of western films, where the evil bandit calls the sheriff out in to the street to for a final showdown. Like in the western films where there is tension built before the bandit arrives, in the play there is tension built before Marco arrives.
Tension is built as the neighbourhood surrounds these two powerful figures in the street, as Eddie demands Marco to apologise for dishonouring his name.
" Tell the people what a liar you are! (he has his arms spread and Marco is spreading his.) Come on, liar, you know what you done! (He lunges for Marco as a great hushed shout goes up from the people.)
"Animal! You go on your knees to me!"
The showdown between Marco and Eddie at the very end of the play make this scene a dramatic and powerful one. The fight scene is extremely exciting as the play is brought to a dramatic climax. The writer makes this scene exciting with the inclusion of stage directions,
" (He is incensing himself and little bits of laughter even escape him as his eyes are murderous and he cracks his knuckles in his hands with a strange sort of relaxation.)"
These lines and this one in particular, conjure up an image in the reader's mind of how the characters look and act. This line shows how Eddie is psyching himself up and how he has a murderous glint in his tunnel-like eyes. Stage directions like this add that extra touch which makes that scene that little bit more exciting.
Male pride is a huge factor in this scene and we see this in one line by Eddie to Marco,
" I want my name!"
Male pride is an absolute key factor in the play as many of the problems that arise are caused by male pride. Pride dictates the events of the play.
The scene also shows the importance of loyalty as everyone around him deserts Eddie.
" You won't have a friend in the world, Eddie!"
Loyalty is something that Eddie doesn't have after he called the immigration officers but also something that he needs. Because he wasn't loyal everyone deserts him and leaves him on his own.
And finally justice. This is another key issue brought up in the scene.
The characters' need for justice leads to the climax of the play and Eddie Carbone's death. Marco's need for justice leads to him killing Eddie.
I think Arthur Miller was successful in these two scenes in creating tension and excitement. It is through his use of stage directions and how he perceives tension that Miller creates an effective piece of drama. My essay shows how Arthur Miller created tension and excitement in the play and made it an effective piece of drama. I think Miller was successful in creating tension and excitement in the play because he uses lots of dialogue and stage directions to build up one's image of tension. The play is quite an effective piece of drama as it describes the reality of immigration in to the U.S.A during the 1930's. It purveys the history of Brooklyn and the slums, and shows the dispute of written laws of U.S.A versus the unwritten laws of Sicily. I enjoyed the play as I found it to be full of tension and drama. I thought the play described the reality of immigration in the 1930's very accurately.